Distributor and method of making the same



Dec. 25 1923. 1,478,705

' w. A. EVANS DISTRIBUTOR AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Filed April 2 1920 8 IIIIIIIII 1 LYVEXTOR. I

1 A TTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 25, 1923.

UNITED STATES 1,478,705 PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. EVANS, OF FORT WASHINGTON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO ATWATER KENT MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A COR- PORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

DISTRIBUTOR AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME.

Application filed'Aprll 12,1920. Serial 110. 373,417.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. EVANS, a citizen of the United States, residing in Fort Washington, county of Montgomery, State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Distributors and Methods of Making the Same, of which the following is a specification.

invention relates to distributors, and the method of making the same, such as emloyed in ignition systems for internal comustion engines for directing at proper time the spark producing energy to the spark plugs of the engine. 16 In distributor structure, comprising a rotary distributor block or member carryin a terminal or brush past distributor terminals in succession, it is desirable or necessary that the active face or end of the rotating 20 terminal or brush shall be with accuracy positioned a predetermined distance from the axis of rotation. In case the rotary brush or terminal is secured to the distributor member by a post carried thereby or molded therein, it often occurs that the position of the post or insert, which determines the position of the rotary brush or terminal, varies as to its distance from the axis of rotation to an extent causing the active face or edge of the terminal or brush to be located a distance from the axis of rotation which is either too great or too small.

To overcome these difiiculties, I have devised a distributor comprisin a member or block, preferably of molded insulating material, which carries a post, preferab y an insert molded in the distributor member, whose portion which is exposed or projects he 0nd the member or block is machined to 0 suitable dimensions located the correct and predetermined distance from the axis of rotation of the member or block, the brush or terminal of predetermined dimensions having a hole or aperture at predetermined po- 4 sition and of a dimension fitting the machined portion of the post or insert, whereby the brush or termina is located at correct distance from the axis of rotation, notwithstanding variations in distance of the post or insert.

My invention resides in a distr butor and method of making the same hereinafter described and claimed.

For an illustration of my distributor, and

for an understandin of the method of pro ducing the same, re erence is had totheacconipanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a sectional view of the distributor block with insert molded therein. Fig. illustrates the same structure after machining the exposed or free end of the post or insert.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the structure shown in i'g. 2.

Fig. 4. is a plan view of the brush or terminal.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the resilient contact,

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional View showing the brush and contact assembled in final position.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawin 1 is the distributor member or block 0 insulatin material, and referably of molded insu ating material. t is rotated in suitable relation with the crank shaft of the engine by any means well understood in the art. For example, it is driven by the cam shaft of the interrupter mechanism controllin the primary circuit of an induction coi the current from whose secondary or high tension coil is distributed by the structure herein described through stationary distributor terminals in proper order of succession to she spark plugs of the different engine cyliners.

In the example illustrated the block 1 has a recess 2 which receives the end of the cam shaft or other drivin'g member; and at the bottom of the recess 2 is provided the rib 3 received into an offset slot in the end of the cam shaft.

Carried by the block 1 is a post 4 which, in the example illustrated, is a metallic insert molded within the molded insulating material constituting the block 1. It may have a knurled or roughened head 5 by which it is more securely held in the block 1. In the example illustrated, it is shown as interiorl threaded at 6 for receivin a holding or bind in" screw hereinafter re erred to.

In locating the post 4 upon the block 1, or in molding it in the block 1, its distance from the aXis of rotation, the center of the recess 2, may vary more or less, and so cause location of the part or parts held by the post or insert similarly to vary and so take an incorrect position;

The structure shown in Fig. 1 is then placed in a suitable holder, such as a drill jig, whereby the axis of rotation of the block 1 is accurately located at desired or prede? termined distance from the axis of rotation of the hollow milling tool or cutter 6*, Fig. 2.

The cutter 6 while rotating is then lowered and operates upon the exposed part 7 of the insert or post, Fig. 1, both by reducing its-diameter to predetermined dimension as indicated at 8, Fig. 2,and also by reducing the length of the exposed part to suitable height, as indicated in Fig. 2.. The center of the insert or post 4, if the latter is not correctly positioned, no longer coincides with the axis or center of the machined surface 8, the latter bein now somewhat eccentric, as indicated in igs. 2 and 3, but having its center at correct distance from the axis of rotation of block 1.

The metal terminal or brush 9, Fig. 4. has a hole 10, of diameter corresponding with the diameter of the machined extension 8.

It is placed in the position indicated in Figs. 6 and 7, whereby the accurate positioning of the extension 8 with respect to the axis of rotation of the block 1 ensures accurate location of the active end 'or face 11 of the terminal 9 with respect to the axis of rotation, the end 11 being rotated, as well understood in the art, past stationary distributor terminals communicating, respectively, with the spark plugs of different cylinders of the en ine.

y the structure described, therefore, the location .of the brush or terminal with respect to the axisof rotation is accurately determined, notwithstanding variations in position of the post 4.

The brush or terminal 9 is secured by any suitable means, as for example, a screw 12 threaded into the post 4.

Electrical connection between the brush or terminal 9 and the source of spark producing energy may be effected by any suitable means. In the example illustrated, the connection is established by the resilient contact 13, Figs. 5, 6 and 7, of spring steel or other suitable material, which may be bent into the form indicated in Fig. 6. It is provided with a hole 14 through which the screw 12 passes, the screw thereby holding both contact 13 and terminal 9 securely in place, and in electrical contact with each other, either when contact 18 is placed-beneath terminal 9, or, as illustrated, above terminal 9 The inner end 15 of the contact 13 engages, in manner well understood in the art, with a stationary terminal connecting with the source of spark producing energy, for example, one terminal of the high tension secondary winding of the ignition induction coil What I claim is: v

1. The method of producing a distributor, which consists in securing a post to a distributor block approximately at a predetermined distance from the axis of rotation of the block, holding the block in position with its axis of rotation at correct distance from a cutting tool, machining said post with said tool to form on said post a machined portion whose center is at said predetermined distance,'and securing to said block a conductor having a perforation fitting said machined portion of said post.

2. The method of producing a distributor, which consists in molding a post in a block of insulating material approximately at predetermined distance from the axis of rotation of said block, holding said block with its axis of rotation at said predetermined distance from a cutting tool, machining the exposed end of said post by said tool to produce a machined portion whose center is at said predetermined distance from the axis of rotation of said block, and securing to. said block a conductor having a perforation fitting said machined portion of said post.

3. Distributor structure comprising a rotatable block of molded material, an insert molded therein with a body portion having its longitudinal axis at approximately predetermined distance from the axis of rotation of the block, said insert having a projecting end whose longitudinal axis is at a predetermined distance from said axis of rotation and independent of said axis of the body portion, a terminal member having a perforation fitting said projecting end, and

means for securing said terminal member 1 to said insert.

4. Distributor structure comprising a rotatable block of molded insulating material, an insert molded therein with a body portion having its longitudinal axis at approximately predetermined distance from the axis of rotation of the block, a projection integral with said body portion and having its longitudinal axis independent of said axis of the body portion, a distributor terminal having a perforation fitting said projection, a contact extending from said insert to. said axis of rotation, and means securing said contact to said block.

5. Distributor structure comprising a rotatable distributor block, a post secured thereto approximately at predetermined distance from the axis of rotation of said block, said block having a portion whose center is at said predetermined distance .from said axis of rotation, a distributor terminal having a perforation fitting said portion, a contact extending from said post to said axis of rotation, and means securing said contact and said terminal to said bloc 6. Distributor structure comprising a rotatable distributor block, a post secured thereto with its longitudinal axis approximately at predetermined distance from the axis of rotation of the block, an extended portion on the post whose longitudinal axis is independent of said axis of the post, said extended portion being tapped concentrically of the first named longitudinal axis, a distributor terminal having a perforation fitting said extended portion, and a screw disposed within said tapped portion to hold said terminal in place.

7. Distributor structure comprising a rotatable distributor block, a post embedded therein and projecting above the surface thereof, the center of said post within said block being at uncertain distance from the axis of rotation, a portion of said post exposed above said block having a cylindrical portion whose center is at a predetermined distance from the axis of rotation, a distributor terminal having a perforation snugly fitting said cylindrical portion, and means coacting with said post securing said terminal to said block with the active face of said terminal at a predetermined distance from the axis of rotation.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature this 9th day of April,

WILLIAM A. EVANS. 

